Boys' highway joyride to see grandad

By Dylan Welch

A 10-year-old boy has been pulled over by police after taking his grandmother's car and his younger brother and attempting to drive to his grandfather's house, 120 kilometres away.

Shocked motorists on the Newell highway north of Moree rang police after noticing the small boy in the driver's seat of a red 1980s Holden Commodore, driving comfortably at the speed limit around midday yesterday.

Police were quick to respond and after signalling the car - the boy calmly pulled over to the side of the road, police said - watched as the 10-year-old, with his six-year-old brother, got out of the car to wait for them.

Advertisement

"They appeared to be driving normally ... certainly better than probably some other people on that road,'' said Moree Police Sergeant Matt Clifford.

When finally stopped by police, the boys casually explained that they were just going to visit their grandfather in Moree.

The boys had decided to drive to their grandfather's house in Moree and took their grandmother's car - which had the keys in the ignition - from a house in Boggabilla where she was staying.

They had made around 80 kilometres of the 120 kilometre journey when police pulled them over.

Sergeant Clifford told smh.com.au the grandfather was extremely chagrined when came to collect the two boys from the police station.

"He was shocked himself, he had no [explanation] as to how they could have driven that far," he said.

He also said the two weren't aware they were doing anything wrong when pulled over by police.

"Not really, they stopped and pulled over ... they spoke to police, they told them what they were up to, and why they were coming down to see their family.

"But they weren't upset or crying or anything like that."

He had no idea how the 10-year-old managed to drive the automatic station wagon and see over the dashboard, Sergeant Clifford said.

"He wasn't an overly tall kid."

And while police only issued the 10-year-old with a warning (the six-year-old was not officially warned as he is under 10) Sergeant Clifford said the family of the boys would probably be the ones to hand down the punishment for their amazing motorised escapade.

"I'm sure granddad and grandma, if not mum and dad, might have their own little chastisement for [the two boys]."

And the chastisement from grandma may be quite significant, after Sergeant Clifford revealed she may be facing a fine for their actions.